Lightroom

While the majority of my work revolves around an unplanned, real-life, lifestyle photography approach, there is something to be said about the timeless value of portrait photography. From the three-dimensional “portraits” sculpted by the Greek masters to photos of the royal family, portraiture has been an integral part of art, society, and the documentation of history.

THIS is my take on the classic portrait. (Granted, I still have tweaking in mind and am already planning a few projects, so let’s see where it leads!)

I was recently searching for a particular look for a series of photos I had shot, but I wasn’t able to find anything that was already out there from another photographer or retoucher that closely matched what I was visualizing in my head. So, what do you do when you want something that nobody else produces? Create it yourself!

I wanted a feel that was reminiscent of the low-contrast, slightly-desaturated look of 1960s and early ’70s consumer photography. My reasoning behind this was to allow the hues and tones of the image to tell a story almost of their own, instantly drawing the viewer into a place of memory and recollection.

My initial application was a series of photos captured while out for a day of fishing with my father and uncle. I wanted to tell a story of their relationship — years of memories and experiences with stories shared and laughed about throughout the day; a bond forged stronger through the loss of close family members over the last half a decade; and a love only two brothers could share. (more…)

I think there is something to be said for vintage photography and the varying looks that often accompanied it. But, what do you do to achieve that look in the digital age? Lightroom presets.

This is a custom-developed preset specifically crafted for images shot in RAW to which you would like to add a subtle vintage feel. This is “#4″ in a set of custom Lightroom presets that I’ve developed and used specifically for wedding photography, adding a classy retro feel those special photos which will last a lifetime.

Montreal-based photographer Serhan Oksay picked up the preset and put it to work. While his use wasn’t exactly what I had originally envisioned, his results (posted above) show a bit of the breadth of this preset’s flexibility. As Serhan mentioned in his blog post, this particular preset works best when applied to images shot in RAW within a studio environment.

I have always been an admirer of great photography ever since I was a young child, and there are few photographers who can create and capture a truly amazing photograph like Annie Leibovitz.

In studying a variety of her work, I was inspired to create a Lightroom preset derived from some elements of her iconic style. Granted, this is not a direct copy of her work, and it will not magically turn images into cover-of-Vanity Fair masterpieces. But, if even in some small way, it advances the cause of visual communication, then I will have considered it a success. (Download below)

(See before-and-after, and download the preset after the jump.)(more…)

See the before and after as well as a video tutorial of my Portrait Vintage Lightroom preset. If you use this preset, leave a link to an example or post a pic in the comments…I would love to see how you put it to use! Download it here!

Over the last while I have developed an insatiable appetite for black and white photography. I continually search it out, I analyze it…and I create it. There are two specific black and white plugins that I have developed that have risen quickly to the top of my Lightroom favorites, and I thought it only human that I share the joy.

Allen’s Surreal – B/W – 2

This is definitely my favorite out of the two. It focuses on enhancing detail and maximizing contrast for the best, crisp, black and white image possible. It often lends itself to creating images very reminiscent of those captured from the 1930’s and 1940’s. This preset works best on images with wide tonal range that do not include “blow-outs.”

Allen’s Surreal – B/W

The predecessor of “B/W – 2″ is this monochrome beauty. A steady “workhorse” for black and white photography, this preset works as a general black and white conversion, enhancing details while not overdoing the contrast.

What I'm FLICKRing:

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